summer fest time again? cukes & zukes week = a recipe for chocolate zucchini cake

i first told you about summer fest a couple of years ago. each week a summer staple from the garden is featured and a group of bloggers share their favorite recipes and then cross promote the other blogs. for readers it is the perfect opportunity to discover cool bloggers and amazing recipes...just when you need them most. as an example...this week is cukes and zukes week. if you have a summer garden, tell me you are not inundated with cucumbers and summer squash right now....or that you have not been given bushels full from friends and neighbors...or, if you are like me and belong to a csa, that your boxes have not been brimming with said produce for the past few weeks.



i always love the creative ideas that come from these weeks...and am inspired by the talented bloggers that participate in the event...everyone from trained chefs to home cooks to beginners...and we all learn from each other.

the schedule is as follows:
■7/28: cukes n zukes
■8/4: corn
■8/11: herbs, greens, and beans
■8/18: stone fruit
■8/25 tomatoes


this week i thought i would share my chocolate zucchini cake...made with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. moist, chocolaty, delicious...a favorite in my house when zucchini gets to be a bit too much. i might hear "oh no!..no more stir fry with zucchini...no more grilled zucchini...no more stuffed zucchini" (you get the idea)...but i never, ever hear "oh no!...no more chocolate cake!" the zucchini is a tweak to a recipe i shared a couple of years ago...vegan chocolate cake with figs ...inspired by a cake in the moosewood restaurant book-desserts. their version first introduced me to the concept of using vinegar in a cake. thank you moosewood! this cake is also delicious without the zucchini (or figs)..a bit lighter and more "cakey". the zucchini makes it dense, moist and really fudgy...so you have options depending on what type of cake you want...try both versions(exact same recipe...just leave out the zucchini)...and please let me know what you think...



chocolate zucchini cake

3 cups organic unbleached flour
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup best quality unsweetened premium cocoa powder (i like scharffen berger)
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 cups cold water
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp pure balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups finely shredded zucchini (i use a box grater)

preheat the oven to 350 degrees. grease a bundt cake pan using extra virgin olive oil. add the first 6 ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer. stir with a wooden spoon to mix. add rest of ingredients and stir, using the paddle attachment, until just incorporated. pour batter into the prepared pan and bake 45 min to 1 hour. test for doneness by sticking a skewer, chopstick or knife into center of cake. if your tester is clean when you remove, the cake is ready. rest on a rack for 30 minutes. invert onto cake plate and allow to cool completely. dust with powdered sugar and serve. (this is also delicious with a chocolate glaze drizzled over the cake and served with ice cream or fresh fruit.)

please check out my 2008 zucchini food fest post zucchini madness for additional recipes.

now...it is your turn to get involved with summer fest. you have two choices...you can add your favorite zucchini recipe in the comments section of this post (link to your blog if you have one)...or you can join the fun and create your own blog post. margaret roach from away to garden and deb puchalla are coordinating everyone's efforts so check out their sites for all the details. (and some amazing recipes)

best, and happy cooking!
diane

diane padoven
founder/president
napa farmhouse 1885™"live a green life of style™ "

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